Tesla is about to release its latest holiday update, a highly-anticipated annual software rollout that usually includes lots of fun upgrades known as “easter eggs” as well as some nifty features.
And 2021’s holiday update does not disappoint, according to leaked notes shared on Teslascope. Perhaps at the top of our list is “Light Show”, which is a take on the Model X light show in which it “wags” its wing doors and flashes its lights in time to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
“Watch your Tesla dance to a choreographed light show any time of the year,” the notes read. “Open toybox, tap Light Show and follow the instructions.”
A glimpse of some new features and improvements coming out as part of the Holiday Update.
— Teslascope (@teslascope) December 21, 2021
Also interesting is the addition of a customisable app launcher, that is very similar to an iPhone interface and hints that an App Store may be added in the future.
“Drag and drop your favorite apps to any position along the bottom menu bar for easy access,” it reads.
“To customize your menu bar, hold any icon and then drag to reorder. To adjust controls such as heated seats and defrost, tap on the temperature or swipe up from the bottom of the screen.”
Next on the list is “Simplified Controls”, which it seems is designed to group basic functions under a new menu with submenus for charging, trips and servicing. It says:
“The display has been simplified to focus on navigation, media and the most common primary controls.
- For windshield wipers and status bar information, tap Controls
- For charging controls tap Controls > Charging
- For trip and odometer information tap Controls > Trips
- For tire pressure information tap Controls > Service
Note: Activating the windshield wipers via the stalk will continue to display the wiper card.”
There is also now an automatic blind spot camera view: whenever you indicate to turn, it turns on so you can see in the blind spot on the screen.
Finally, waypoints! The ability to add points in the navigation between departure and destination locations has been an oft-called for feature.
“Easily reorder or add multiple destinations to your route with updated arrival times. To add a stop, or edit a trip, initiate a navigation route, and tap the more options button on the turn list,” it reads.
There are also some entertainment updates, including TikTok, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sudoku, and multiplayer mode for Battle of Polytopia.
Some climate and HVAC updates are also included. One is the ability to turn climate control back on even when the battery is low (although not when it is extremely low), as well as automatic seat heaters, which it appears will take a cue from the cabin temperature – useful in particular in Australia if it means the seats won’t be accidentally turned on by fat fingers when the aircon is actually trying to cool the car down.
The last three updates are maybe not as interesting but good to have nonetheless: the ability to delete dashcam clips in one go, change to a dark themed display, and hide navigation map details.
There is also a new user interface design, Teslascope said.
Here is the new settings UI. pic.twitter.com/csS5LxnOLP
— Teslascope (@teslascope) December 21, 2021
Bring on the holidays!
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.